Quebec, North Shore and Labrador Railway (QNSL) in the mid 2000's

QNS&L 702 was used in the construction of the railway. The orange station in the background sees regular passenger service to this day

I'll complete my tour of the North Shore of the St. Lawrence with the Quebec, North Shore and Labrador Railway, otherwise known as the QNS&L.  This was one of the first railways completed in the region to access the iron ore in the Labrador Trough, a geologic feature that hosts significant deposits of iron ore.  

While I didn't work on the north end of the QNS&L, I frequently flew into Sept Iles to continue east to Havre St. Pierre and beyond.  Whenever I had time and opportunity I would railfan the area, and got to see quite a few areas.  Unfortunately by the time I got to the region public access to the facilities was very restricted.  Lingering too long in one spot would get you a visit from a security guard telling you to move along.  That said, you could still see quite a bit of railway activity.  

Iron Ore - QNS&L

While waiting for this train I got a security guard come by to tell me to move along - in French.  I smiled and nodded, waited for him to leave and then got the shot I needed

This view gives a good contrast between the various ores mined in the Labrador trough.  The silver grey ore is magnetite rich while the brown red ore is more hematite rich

Tail end DPU coming into the yard in Sept Iles.  Some of the orange paint faded very quickly on these locomotives, giving a more yellow look to the paint.

The QNS&L facilities are on the east end of the city, anchored by the port and passenger station (discussed further below).  This is a huge yard facility with ore storage, blending and ship loading along with freight car and locomotive maintenance facilities, MOW and passenger equipment maintenance.  

There are still quite a few older freight cars in service on the QNS&L  This boxcar appeared to be used by the TSH.

The most overpowered train I saw on the QNS&L

Good detail view of the top of an SD40-2

This looks like a garbage compactor but I'm not sure.  All I know is the train was vastly overpowered

Unfortunately for me by the mid 2000's the entire port was off limits for non-employees, completely fenced with security cameras and guards.  I had to be satisfied with looking over the fence and off the single overpass on the line.  Even then I had a security guard come along and tell me to move along when I was on the overpass embankment - I didn't move along, just lurked in a different spot.  There are a lot of power lines at this location which interferes with some of the photo sight lines. 

QNS&L 418 heading north with empties for the Labrador Iron Ore mines

This photo clearly shows the difference in paint between the various locomotive orders

Ore cars as far as the eye can see

The stencilling on the car side indicates higher load capacity

Some of the ore cars appear to have been rebuilt to increase capacity

Late in the evening this southbound ore train heads towards Sept Iles at the north end of Arnaud Junction

A more interesting spot is the north end of Arnaud Junction, accessible by a somewhat dodgy dirt road off of Route 138.  All traffic in and out of  Sept Iles and Pointe Noire passes through here, and it is nice and quiet except for the odd hunter and fisherman.  

Anticipation as you can see the train coming from quite a distance away.

Now I just need to find and scan the next series of slides with the locomotives on the bridge... 

[EDIT - FOUND IT!]

Northbound sand loads.  This train snuck up on me

If you continue along the dirt road past Arnaud Junction you will arrive at a magnificent steel bridge over the Moise River.  You need to plan out your route beforehand as there are quite a few branches to the road, but you will basically arrive at the south end of the bridge.  

The Tunnel sites immediately adjacent to the bridge.  Situations like this are common on model railways; on prototype ones less so

This northbound caught me off guard so I wasn't able to get set up for a better shot.  Better luck next time

Original graffiti from the construction of the railway in 1952

This is a model railroader's ideal situation: a giant bridge over a scenic river that immediately goes into a tunnel.  It would be a great spot to spend a day shooting the northbound and southbound traffic.  Unfortunately for me I only had relatively small windows to see these locations due to work commitments.  If I ever make it back this is one place I want to spend more time.  

Of course I wouldn't recommend going there in the summer without bug spray, northern Quebec has some of the worst blackflies and mosquitoes I have encountered in my time in the bush.  If you don't like bugs this isn't a good place for you.  Go in the spring or fall when the bugs aren't out yet.  

QNS&L was originally Temiskaming and Northern Ontario 159.  It was used in the construction of the line.  Ore trains were originally hauled by GP9

There is always some oddball MOW equipment to be seen

Iron Ore - Arnaud Railway

The Arnaud Railway runs between Pointe Noire and their mines in Labrador.  Most of the distance is covered by trackage rights over the QNS&L from Arnaud Junction to the Arnaud trackage in Labrador.

For decades the Arnaud used a fleet of RS18 to haul trains of custom hoppers similar to the ones used by CN and ONR.  While the hopper cars are still in use, the Arnaud was using leased(?) QNS&L SD40-2 for the ore trains, with the RS18 used in work train service and switching at Pointe Noire.  

I saw most of the active RS18 fleet but only 906 actually in operation.  It was switching ballast hoppers and I was able to take lots of detail photos of it.  Most of the Arnaud fleet have since migrated to second owners including several new owners in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  

Light engine move out of Pointe Noire.  QNS&L locomotives on Arnaud trackage

Going away view of the same light engine move

Northbound empties just leaving the yard at Pointe Noire

It was a brilliantly lit bitterly cold day, the light was perfect.  The temperature less so.

Highway 138 overpass.  This would have been a great spot to catch the RS18 lead trains back in the day

The road to an industrial area of Sept Iles has this view of the Arnaud line to Pointe Noire. 

I didn't have enough time to set up to catch the drift busting at this spot.  Almost!

It is as cold as it looks...

The empty ore trains running from Pointe Noire north were fairly consistent, and I often was able to photograph them after arriving in Sept Iles before heading east.  The line runs along the north side of Sept Iles and has a nice bridge over Highway 138 and is accessible at several points along the route.

What's not to like about a big American diesel electric crane?  The crews were working with it so I stayed out of the way

Technically this is a QNS&L car but it was being used by Arnaud so I will put it here

Arnaud DIFCO side dump car in ballast service.

Passenger Operations - Tshiuetin Rail Transportation

Northbound passenger train leaving the yard in Sept Iles in September 2009

The TSH passenger trains carry a lot of head end traffic as you can see in this photo.  For many communities this is the main connection to the outside world

The QNS&L runs through remote and rugged terrain, and is the only access for a number of communities along the route.  Originally the railway operated passenger trains, but this was sold to a consortium of local First Nations in approximately 2005 and is now operated as the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation passenger train.   

Ex CN GP40-2W that has been de-turbocharged.  The paint scheme is reminiscent of GO Transit

Ex Amtrak F40PH in a very cluttered environment.  

QNS&L Dome car - see the route in style

Passenger car at Sept Iles Station.

Passenger cars everywhere

More passenger cars at Sept Iles

Ex Amtrak car converted to HEP generator.  You can see the fuel tank inside the doorway

The trains are pulled by ex Amtrak F40PH and de-turboed exCN GP40-2W.  The trains have a lot of head end traffic in ex Amtrak express cars.  They operate a sizable passenger car fleet of ex QNS&L, Amtrak and other railway stainless steel cars.  This could be one of the largest stainless steel car fleets outside of VIA Rail and Amtrak.   

Ex CN Jordan Spreader now in TSH service, likely used on the northern portion of the line owned by TSH

I was surprised to see this ex Conrail bay window caboose in Sept Iles.  It was in very good condition

Car Ferry Operations - Pointe Noire

Ex CP RS18 at Pointe Noire. 

One little remarked operation in Pointe Noire is a car ferry operation that connects the QNS&L to the outside world.  When I was in the area the car ferry used an ex CP RS18 and a CN GMD-1 to switch the car ferry.  There would often be newsprint boxcars as well as other cars for interchange.  Since that time the GMD-1 has been repainted into a blue and white paint scheme.  

CN 1422 at Pointe Noire.  I think it is still there switching the COGEMA car ferry dock.  YOu can see the newsprint and paper boxcars in the background

The Sept Iles area is an interesting off the beaten path spot with a lot of interesting railway operations.  There have been a few new mines opened up which have their own locomotive fleets running to Sept Iles.  One day I'd like to go back and see what is new.